Sabine van Wechem

Malu is getting ready in morning to go to school in the favela Jardim America.

The kids are waiting for Fabio to give his weekly football training. In the meanwhile they’re horseback riding around the field of Vacaria. Vacaria is the most deprived and dangerous area of Vila Cruzeiro.

Joyce is living in Vila Cruzeiro and spends most of her time hanging outside in the alley with her boyfriend Gabriel.

This boy needs some rest after playing football in the blistering summer heat in the favela Caxias.

Inside the favela Vila Cruzeiro a bunch of girls are playing outside in the narrow alley in front of their houses.

Andre and his friend love to ride the motorcycle through the favela.

Brazilians love to make fun of each other. Jessica and her friends tease each other during a rooftop party in Vila Cruzeiro.

The football field of the favela Chatuba is a very popular place for the kids. Every day they play football or do tricks with each other to kill time.

Tota is an ex- Tota is an ex-drug-gang member and chose to lead a quiet life. He loves to hang around his self build house, listen to music, watch television and connect with his friends on his smartphone.

You can find a bar at almost every corner in the favela. It’s a colourfull place where where you can have a drink and play games on the old school Arcade consoles.

Igor is chilling with his friends at night on the streets of the favela Jardim America, smoking a joint to relax his mind.

Fica Suave

In Zona Norte of Rio de Janeiro you have the largest and most dangerous favelas. The favelas are factions of a completely different world where colourful houses open out to dark alleys, street parties and marijuana dominate the night-life. Obstacles they face are countless, like poverty and police aggression. At the same time, the favela culture is still one of all together – sharing a plate or a drink, making the best out of life. And being creative to come up with solutions for day to day problems. The favela can be a very warm and welcoming place, with the most beautiful people living there. This ongoing project is focused on the daily life of these people.

Sabine van Wechem

Sabine van Wechem is a Dutch photographer and a student of the Photo Academy in Amsterdam. Focus areas of her work include documentary photography and portraits, with as central theme: people and society, which she prefers to explain through storytelling on her own way. Her work includes subject matter both at home and abroad, for example she is currently busy with a long term project covering life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Her photographs have recently been published in the Life After Football magazine and in various blogs including: streetware label Patta and Real Game Olympics. Sabine also participated in the 2017 Nikon- NOOR Academy in Amsterdam.